TJ Roll Cage and LS1 Swap

[Greg]

I don't like the hot temps, but am not sure at what point it becomes to hot. 250? 260? Anyone have any thoughts on that?

With the old SBC in my CJ, when the temperature reached 240* or more is when I started feeling uncomfortable. I don't know if these Gen III engines manage heat any better, but I would suspect that 250-260* is pretty alarming.

 

[benjy]

Thanks. It's been a fun one. One that never seems to end. Tentative plans for this winter are to back half it, stretch it another 10ish inches, and add by-pass shocks all around. Then it will be a contender in the EMC if he decides he wants to play. In order to get the stretch and up travel he wants, he may have to go to full hydro steering, which would take him out of the EMC, so that is kind of the debate right now. He just wants to go faster. 60 mph seemed more then fast enough to me though on those whoops. But this was the first time for me ever going that fast.

Seriously? I've only met Braden once, but he doesn't seem like the type that would want to compete in his shiny jeep, let alone at KoH Pretty sure one shock/corner at EMC...

It does sound great! Is VSS hooked up?

I'm in the same boat, during the OSRC race, my 6.0 surpised me when it climbed to 230ish... No t-stat (I know, I know...), dual spal fans always running and a radiator plenty big enough to cool it (custom PWR built for the 6.0). I didn't do anything to bleed the system?

 

[UNSTUCK]

Seriously? I've only met Braden once, but he doesn't seem like the type that would want to compete in his shiny jeep, let alone at KoH Pretty sure one shock/corner at EMC...

It does sound great! Is VSS hooked up?

I'm in the same boat, during the OSRC race, my 6.0 surpised me when it climbed to 230ish... No t-stat (I know, I know...), dual spal fans always running and a radiator plenty big enough to cool it (custom PWR built for the 6.0). I didn't do anything to bleed the system?

Yeah, he's getting into it. He might be at Miller this weekend racing the short course if he can get nets and a roof mounted. I'm not sure about one shock or not. At first he wanted to to trailing arms, but that would put him over the shock length rule. And he may go full hydro steering so he can get more up travel. Those would also put him out of EMC.

VSS is hooked up and working fine.

If the radiator is well above the engine (Bradens is) it should self bleed. But with Bradens leaking radiator it isn't running at full capacity. It leaks till it gets maybe two inches down then stops. I'm sure that has something to do with it.

The other interesting issue is the coolant temp throughout the engine. Most of us, when we do these swaps, put the coolant gauge sensor in the passenger side head at the rear where the extra port is. This is how Bradens is set up. The GM sensor is on the driver side head at the front, just the opposite. With my scan tool I can see the exact temp that the GM computer is seeing at any given time. Then I can switch over to the Jeep ECM and see what it is showing for the coolant temp. That temp is usually about 20* lower. So there is a good chance that anyone running one of these motors thinks their temp is x*, but really it is running quite a bit hotter than that. I think the best idea is to drill/tap for the gauge sensor right next to the GM sensor so you can see the same temp as the GM computer sees. That way you know you are seeing the hottest part of the engine.

 

[RockChucker]

I've had my fair share of issues with the Novak radiator. I'm on my 3rd or 4th one. Can't remember exactly. They just keep sending me replacements. Mine always leak on the bottom where the tanks meet the core. I've decided to ditch the Novak track all together. I've been looking at a CBR, but man they are pricey. But I'll probably end up with one when I tube out the front of my Jeep and need to remount the radiator anyway...

My temps have always been a slight concern. My fan comes on at 190 and off at 185 if I remember correctly. I have never had temp issues while wheelin or bombing down a wash, but a big long hill will cause my temps to rise. I *think* a louver kit will help. I think it will let the air vent out of the engine bay and more air will flow through the radiator...I haven't done a louver yet, so this is just a theory for now. I have one on order though.

Who is he going to have do his tuning? I originally bought into the whole mail order tune thing. That turned out to be a giant waste of cash. I ended up having Matt Snell at Pauls Automotive in Sandy tune mine. I didn't dyno tune it since I just have a stock 5.3, but he was able to make the tune a little hotter. It runs really good. My mail order tune had a weird lope after there was a load on the engine and it would often quit running on me. Matt was able to fix all of it, and it runs like the motor was meant to be there. If he doesn't have a tuner yet, he should call Pauls and talk to Matt. I have never met anyone that knows GM motors like Matt does.

 

[benjy]

he doesn't seem like the type that would want to compete in his shiny jeep, let alone at KoH

After rereading this I realizes it came off very d-bagish... My intent was that his jeep is very nice, and I don't know that I would race it if it was mine...

 

[UNSTUCK]

Supposedly Novak just redesigned their radiators, or at least the mounting bracket is all new, and I like it much better then the old mount. So I'm not sure if he will have any issues with the radiator like you have had. I guess the question now is how much better will dyno tuning be vs just a normal computer tune. I have had good success with computer tuning in the past. I have never had a customer that wanted to dyno tune. In fact the only time I ever ran a jeep on a dyno was just to see before and after HP on some mods I did for a JK (the HP went down! ).

 

[UNSTUCK]

After rereading this I realizes it came off very d-bagish... My intent was that his jeep is very nice, and I don't know that I would race it if it was mine...

I didn't take it that way at all, and knew what you meant. He is also concerned about destroying the jeep, but going fast is growing on him and racing just becomes the next step. And I have to agree. This past weekend was the first time I have ever gone fast in a Jeep. Now I am seriously rethinking my project that I have spent the last 6 months gathering parts for. I'm just about ready to start the build, and now I might change a few parts to handle the go fast a lot better. I haven't been that scared, excited, happy, ect.. in a long time.

 

[bradentaala]

Seriously? I've only met Braden once, but he doesn't seem like the type that would want to compete in his shiny jeep, let alone at KoH Pretty sure one shock/corner at EMC...

I guess I could hire someone to drive my jeep for me... I codrove for a buddy this year in the EMC, and feel like my jeep would do pretty good without major damages. (that couldn't be semi easily repaired) haha. The rock sections were actually easier than the stuff i'm use to wheeling. It's the desert sections that will destroy it. haha. (and don't worry, i didn't take that as a douchbag comment)

Section 6.4 is stock mod class. http://ultra4racing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2014-rules-v4.1-wlogo1.pdf

"6.4.8.2 Shock absorbers of any make/model/type are permitted and may be installed
in any location and orientation, with the following limitations and exceptions:
Only two shock absorbers are permitted per wheel/tire (not including
spare tires). Shock absorbers shall not be larger than 2.65" in diameter (outer
diameter of shock-body) and shall not be capable of any more than
14" stroke. Shock absorbers must be connected directly to the axle assembly
and chassis and shall not be mounted in any way so as to yield any type of
mechanical advantage..."

A big thanks to Josh for doing awesome work! And for his patience working with me, as i'm very picky and know exactly what i want. ha. I'll stop being lazy and get some gopro footage to post up. I'm excited to watch these new bumps being put to work!

 

[blznnp]

A big thanks to Josh for doing awesome work! And for his patience working with me, as i'm very picky and know exactly what i want. ha. I'll stop being lazy and get some gopro footage to post up. I'm excited to watch these new bumps being put to work!

I saw your jeep over at Josh's house, nice rig you got there, awesome combo and I agree, Josh has done a awesome job building that thing.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I really enjoy building Jeeps. It's a great hobby for me. Now if I could just get to mine! I think I should turn my phone off for the next 6 months.

 

[blznnp]

I heard you where just in discount tire the other day getting stuff for yours, that's one step forward. That's what Kade told me today when I went in.

 

[bradentaala]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I really enjoy building Jeeps. It's a great hobby for me. Now if I could just get to mine! I think I should turn my phone off for the next 6 months.

don't turn your phone off yet! I just sent you a 'coming soon' preview you'll want to see... I guess i can post it here, also. Yes, i know the "4 speed atlas TC" is pointing to the cutting brakes... it'll be fixed before the guy releases the final video.

[video=youtube;yb0_LjrdFY4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb0_LjrdFY4[/video]